Fallout Of Notre Dame's Bowl Decision Is a Loss For Central Michigan

Notre Dame should have been required a pep talk from "Dr. Lou" himself before being allowed to deny a bowl invite last week. Jack Swarbrick, ND Athletics Director, referred to his decision as being the result of "unique circumstances."

It's their own loss in so many ways. They sacrificed the 15 extra practice days before spring football, as well as missed out on the chance to give their seniors a final go as Navy and Gold.

Even more at a loss is a program to the north that is No. 25 in the nation. Tiny Central Michigan, in the underrated MAC, deserves a shot at the big boys this holiday season just as much as Boise State or TCU.

Not to take anything away from the Sun Belt champion, Troy, who CMU will face in the GMAC bowl, but they won't get the chance they deserve because of "unique circumstances."

Ask the students and fans in South Bend to define "unique circumstances" and they will tell you some mumbo jumbo about Charlie Weiss. Either him not being around to call plays or that Clausen and Tate were too close to their head coach to be motivated to play. They'll tell you that a trip to Alabama or Detroit against a minor, less accomplished program such as Central Michigan would be a waste of time and money for Notre Dame. That it would just be a repeat of last year's Hawaii bowl blowout.

Get over your pompous selves. A team that is out a head coach, the last I knew, could still play in a bowl game. Hawaii was 7-6 last year when you played them, Central Michigan is 11-2.

Up in Central Michigan, where there are plenty of fans of both Notre Dame and the Chippewas, they view these "unique circumstances" as a school sparing themselves from humiliation.

Let's face it. The decision was made to take the easy way out. A program that has been in the media spotlight all season, for all the wrong reasons, wanted to forgo the possibility of being embarrassed by one of the top five QBs in the nation, Dan LeFevour.

The Fighting Irish, once a football program of great pride, will be known as the Fleeing Irish for the time being.